Ferry Waters Muddled by Success of Eyman’s Latest Initiative

The Washington State Transportation Commission has proposed a 2.5%  ferry fare increase to go into effect January 1. However, with the success of the Tim Eyman-sponsored  initiative I-1053 in last Tuesday’s election, the increase may well be stymied again.

Transportation Commissioner Dan O’Neal and Washington State Ferries Planning Director Ray Deardorf met with the San Juan Islands public at a meeting aboard  the Evergreen State yesterday, Nov. 4. After presenting the budget background and fare recommendations, O’Neal  and Deardorf entertained comments from the public attending the meeting, who took part in sessions held as passengers boarded from Friday Harbor, Orcas, Lopez and Shaw Islands..

O’Neal introduced the fare hike, saying, “Keep in mind, the ferry system is just like every [state] government agency… facing a  $17,000,000 cut —  beyond what was cut last year.  The entire state government is facing a $5 billion ($5,000,000,000) deficit.”

The ferry tariff  increase was first requested last July. However, the Transportation Commission held back their recommendation because of the controversy regarding employee overtime on the San Juan Islands’ route that came to light last summer, according to O’Neal.

He added that one aspect of the financial picture that has yet to be assessed is the “impact” of I-1053. This initiative “restate[s] existing statutory requirements that legislative actions raising taxes must be approved by two-thirds legislative majorities or receive voter approval, and that new or increased fees require majority legislative approval” (from the State Voters Guide).

However, Deardorf said that the proposed increase is necessary to meet the ferry system’s revenue target of $298,000,000 set by the State Legislature last session, said Ray Deardorff.

The fare proposal was developed by the Ferries Division of WSDOT (WSF) in consultation with the Ferry Advisory Committee on Tariffs (FAC-T), an advisory group made up of ferry riders and members of local ferry advisory committees. Orcas Islander Ed Sutton has been appointed chair of the FAC-T’s Tariff Policy Committee.

The draft fare proposal includes the following elements:

• A general fare increase of 2.5% . The proposal calls for a general system-wide fare increase of 2.5% (increases will vary slightly due to Tariff Route Equity (TRE) and rounding adjustments).
• TRE Phasing in the San Juan Islands. An extra 2% increase for the San Juans Interisland fares is proposed to complete the final phase of Tariff Route Equity implementation. Deardorff said that because the interisland fare was the only route that hadn’t seen a previous fare increase, the increase for that route would actually amount to 4.5% overall increase.
• School Group pricing. A discounted school group rate is currently offered to support educational and enrichment programs in ferry-served communities. To ensure the original intent of the program is being met, clarifying language states that the discount applies to K-12 school groups and requires a letter of authorization on the sponsoring school’s letterhead.

On the San Juan-Orcas leg of the inter-island ferry meeting, San Juan Islands Ferry Advisory Committee (FAC) members brought up that the San Juan Island School District has eliminated sports from the school budget, and therefore could not “authorize” the island’s sports organizations for the travel discount.

The Transportation Commission officials took that into consideration for further revising the authorizing language, and also considered that the $2 charge per group (in addition to the vehicle charge) may be adjusted; for example for $1 per person in the vehicle, be it car, van or bus).

• Day-of-week pricing in the San Juan Islands. To simplify the fare structure, the proposal would eliminate the day-of-week pricing structure, the early week discount, and the passenger peak season surcharge (currently 20%) in the San Juan Islands.

Deardorf said that the elimination of the Sun-Tues. fare discount would generate 17% increase in revenue; and that no other route has the summer passenger surcharge that the San Juans’ route has charged.

The increase in Anacortes-Orcas fare would make passenger fares:

• $11.50  for full fare
• $5.75 for senior/disabled
• $9.20 youth fare
• $74.75 multi-ride

The base vehicle ferry tolls for Anacortes to Orcas would be:

• $33.55 for vehicle under 20 feet and driver
• $27.80 for vehicle under 20 feet with senior/disabled driver
• $125.85 for multi-ride

San Juan County Councilman Howie Rosenfeld said that he feels there is little opposition to the fare hike locally.

Deardorf said that the inter-island ferry meeting was convened “due to the specific nature of San Juan Island ferry services,” and reminded the meeting that the formal adoption of the recommended fare hike will be on Nov. 15, when the Transportation Commission would consider all comments received and additional testimony. At the Nov. 15 meeting, the Commission will decide whether to move ahead on the fare’s taking effect Jan. 1, 2011.

Eyman has written a letter to the State Attorney General, asking that the fare increase be denied in light of  Initiative 1053’s requirement for two-thirds legislative approval for any tax or fee increase. ( I-1053 initiative goes into effect Dec. 2, 2010).

When asked how the process for implementing ferry fare increases in light of the initiative passing will be played out, O’Neal said, “The lawyers are looking at it, and we’ll get back to you.”

A joint meeting of the San Juans Ferry Advisory Commmittee and WashingtonState Ferries will be held at an evening County Council meeting  on San Juan Island from 5:30 to 7 p.m.  The meeting will be streamed live at www.sanjuanco.com/council/video.aspx#mode.live

The public can comment on the Transportation Commission’s proposal in several ways:

• Email:  transc@wstc.wa.gov
• Mail:  P.O. Box 47308, Olympia, WA  98504
• Phone:  360.705.7070

The public comment period will extend through November 15, 2010 when the Commission will hold a final Public Hearing in Seattle where testimony on the proposal will be taken. The Commission is expected to take action at this hearing.

For more information about the Commission and additional details about the fare proposal, visit the Transportation Commission’s Web site at: https://www.wstc.wa.gov/